Steelheads' winning streak hits three in Rapid City
Published on December 5, 2017 under ECHL (ECHL)
Idaho Steelheads News Release
Rapid City, SD - Ryan Faragher made 20 saves in net and Brady Brassart scored twice in the third period to help the Idaho Steelheads (7-3-4) close out a 4-1 win over the Rapid City Rush (5-8-0) on Friday night at Rushmore Plaza Civic Center. The Steelheads have won a season-high three games in a row and have earned at least a point in eight of the last nine games.
Brassart's goal late in the third period, as well as his empty-net goal to cap the evening, extended his personal points streak to a career-high nine games. Brassart is now tied for fifth in the ECHL in scoring with 18 points.
With the Steelheads ahead 2-0 late in the third period, Brassart extended the lead just after the Idaho power play expired. Steve McParland slid a pass from the left-wing corner to the top of the crease, where Brassart was camped out to redirect his seventh goal of the season underneath goaltender Christian Frey.
With six seconds left, Brassart scored again into an empty net to seal the win.
Prior to Brassart's first tally, the Rush had an opportunity to climb back into the game. With 7:40 left in the game and the Steelheads ahead 2-0, penalties to Charlie Dodero and Aaron Harstad gave the Rush a 5-on-3 advantage for 1:27. The Steelheads killed off the disadvantage with help in the form of goaltender Ryan Faragher's best save, a left-toe stop on Peter Sivak at the left post to keep the Rush [Brady Brassart, 11/17; Michael Wolforth] scoreless.
Rapid City spoiled Faragher's shutout bid with 1:25 remaining when Dante Salituro finished the rebound of a Matt Caito shot for his sixth goal of the season, making it 3-1.
The Steelheads power play opened the scoring at 8:40 of the first period with a power play goal from Will Merchant, his third goal of the season and second in as many games on a high wrist shot from the top of the right circle. The Steelheads have scored power play goals in seven of the past nine games.
Connor Chatham extended the lead at 16:09 of the second period, beating Frey between the legs on a right-wing shot for his third goal of the season to make it 2-0.
Corbin Baldwin earned an assist on the Steelheads' fourth goal, his sixth in the last eight games. With assists on Brassart's first of the night, McParland has nine point in his last eight games and Parizek has eleven points in his last nine contests.
The Steelheads look for their first series sweep of the season in the series finale with the Rush on Saturday night at Rushmore Plaza Civic Center. Puck-drop is scheduled for 7:05pm MT.
STEELHEADS STATS: Goals: Merchant (3), Chatham (3), Brassart (7,8) Ryan Faragher: 24 saves on 25 shots Power Play: 1-for-9 Penalty Kill: 7-for-7
CENTURYLINK THREE STARS OF THE GAME
1. Brady Brassart IDH
2. Ryan Faragher IDH
3. Dante Salituro RCR
COORS LIGHT OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME Brady Brassart: 2 goals, plus-2 rating, 3 shots; Nine-game points streak
PLAY OF THE GAME: The Steelheads only led by two goals when the Rush got a lengthy 5-on-3 power play in the third period. Ryan Faragher would be called on to make his best save to keep the Rush off the board and allow the Steelheads to expand their lead. Dante Salituro tried a sharp-angled shot from the left-wing corner that Faragher fought off, but the rebound sat in the crease near the opposite post and right in front of Rapid City's Peter Sivak. Sivak went to dunk the puck into the open side, but Faragher lunged across the goal line with his left toe to kick the puck just wide of the post and preserve the two-goal lead.
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